Need tips for prepping a car for paint

[Mrfixit]

After many years and several other projects, I'm finally concentrating on prepping my 68 Camaro for paint. I've done a lot of panel replacement and several custom treatments but now it time to take it to the next step. I have a few questions and, I'm sure that I'll have several more before it's shiny so I'll say in advance: Thank you for your advice. Here are the latest questions:

(1) How do I remove all the caulking from the gutters? It appears that, before the car was repainted before that they added new caulking. There is so much caulk that the gutters are at least 1/2 full. I'd like to strip out the old caulk and add new. What removal method do you recommend? Should I just get a wire wheel on go at it with a grinder?

(2) I was on a E-Bodyshopsupplies.com and was looking at an epoxy primer called: Metallock DTM. It's a high-build sandable primer. Opinions? Recommendations?

Thanks again,

[JRouche]

(1) How do I remove all the caulking from the gutters? It appears that, before the car was repainted before that they added new caulking. There is so much caulk that the gutters are at least 1/2 full. I'd like to strip out the old caulk and add new. What removal method do you recommend? Should I just get a wire wheel on go at it with a grinder?


On my car I ground down an old cheap harbor freight flat screwdriver to fit in the channel and to a nice sharp edge. It worked great. The old caulking came up in long strips, painless. Then for the slight residue left in in the channel I used a 3" 3m rollock scotchbright disc in a air angle grinder. It removed the residue and paint/primer as well. But a thin wire wheel will prolly do just as well once you remove the bulk of the caulk. JR

[Mrfixit]

Thanks for the tip. From what I've found on this car so far, I would be surprised that the old caulk is lurking underneath the new. If so, your method will probably work. Thanks.

[Mrfixit]

Next question...

(3) the drip rail on the A pillar, is it removable? It looks like there are two screws holding (and probably some kind of adhesive) holding it in place. Has anyone removed this piece?

[Mrfixit]

Just a gentle bump. Anybody?

[comp-spec]

Next question...

(3) the drip rail on the A pillar, is it removable? It looks like there are two screws holding (and probably some kind of adhesive) holding it in place. Has anyone removed this piece?

Yes they are removable

[Mrfixit]

Thanks for the reply. By the looks of it, there is a lot of sealer used on the pieces. I'd probably ruin the pieces trying to remove them, huh? Any hints or tricks to getting them off in one straight piece?

[67rstbkt]

Thanks for the reply. By the looks of it, there is a lot of sealer used on the pieces. I'd probably ruin the pieces trying to remove them, huh? Any hints or tricks to getting them off in one straight piece?

Mine just came off with a little bit of careful prying. Reproductions are available if you end up messing them up.